Cattle Egret

The cattle egret is a medium sized bird. The egret has a hunched posture. The non breeding birds have complete white plumage with yellow bill and yellow-grey legs. In the breeding season, the feathers on the head, breast, crown and back turn an orange-red. The bill, irises and legs may also turn orange red.

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Cattle egrets follow grazing cows and eat the flies and bugs that tend to bother the cattle. The movement of foraging livestock also dislodges various insects from the field, which cattle egrets feed on. The cattle egret species are often seen taking a ride on the back of cattle or wild herds. They catch insects, especially beetles, dragonflies, mayflies, crickets, spiders, locusts and grasshoppers disturbed and flushed out by the animal movement.

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The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has categorised and evaluated these egret species and has listed them as of “Least Concern”.